Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698941404626.pdf (South Africa)
Ministerial Briefing Provincial and Municipal Measures to Addressing Crime and Building a Coordinated Approach to Crime Prevention and Control Introduction  Community safety is defined as a holistic approach to local peace-building.

It requires the cooperation of various stakeholders.
It is understood progressively as a multi-agency and community-based strategy guided by the notion of criminal and non-criminal harm- reduction that is concerned of the promotion of social good  Community safety is seen as being concerned with people; communities and organizations; including families; victims and risk groups; as well as with attempting to reduce particular types of crime and fear of crime.
It is the catalyst for all social crime prevention programmes within the Eastern Cape in all spheres of government and civil society targeting crime reduction and moral regeneration.
 The name change of the department from “a Safety and Liaison to “Community safety” is a re-focus of the department to strengthen the department’s role as envisaged in the White Paper for Safety and Security where as mandated by the Office of the Premier to coordinate social crime prevention programmes within the Eastern Cape- name change.
 Furthermore, the shift also strengthens the re-established Justice Crime the Provincial Prevention and Security Cluster and the implementation of Safety Strategy at Provincial, District and local level.

2 Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster  The Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) was re-established and launched in March 2021.

The purpose of the JCPS Cluster is to 1.

Enable an integrated and coordinated approach to policy formulation and coordination.

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Combat a silo approach to governance 3.

Ensure that departments align their detailed activities with overall government priorities contained in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and other key policy prescripts 4.

Enable clusters to drive the implementation of the government’s Programme of Action as mandated by the Cabinet Makgotla and informed by the NDP and MTSF.

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Identify disjuncture in policy – arising out of implementation – and review such policies.

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Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Programme of Action  Social Cohesion, Safer Communities is implemented through multi-agency collaboration between all three spheres of government.

This collaboration is coordinated through the Provincial Safety Steering Committee led by the Department of Community Safety.
 This Priority recognizes the critical interface between the Criminal Justice partners, Civil society and Socio-economic role players if it is to make a meaningful difference in achieving the end of term target and impact.

3 Provincial Safety Strategy  The PSS is the overarching Crime Prevention Strategy within the Eastern Cape and is currently in the final stages of review.
 The review of the Provincial Safety Strategy is a clear indication that in government and society in general nothing remains static.

Our crime patterns, socio-economic conditions and various other community determinants reflect ongoing change be it positive or negative.
 The review of the Strategy is further necessitated by new legislation/ policy imperatives, restructuring of government clusters so as to improve service delivery and more responsive to serious crimes like Gender Based Violence and Femicide, mass murders in families, increased levels of fraud and corruption, effective border management and an integrated response to Covid 19 so as to strengthen the Department of Health’s efforts by ensuring compliance of communities to the Disaster Management Regulations.
 A further need for the review of the Provincial Safety Strategy was the development of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy which recognizes that socio- economic drivers of crime and violence go beyond the scope of law enforcement risk factors which must be addressed agencies and includes a multiplicity of collaboratively by all stakeholders including civil society.
4 Provincial Safety Strategy  The PSS is the overarching Crime Prevention Strategy within the Eastern Cape and is The revised Provincial Safety Strategy to some extend mirrors the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy however at to the dynamics of the Eastern Cape.
This Strategy is based on 6 Pillars namely: 1) An Effective Criminal Justice System; 2) Early Intervention To Prevent Crime and Violence and Promote Safety; 3) Victim Support; 4) Effective and Integrated Service Delivery for Community and the Prevention of Crime and Violence; 5) Safety Through Environmental Design and 6) Active Public and Community Participation.

the same time remains relevant  The PSS is directed by an integrated multi-sectoral Programme of Action which reports to the JCPS Cluster.
5 Interventions  Reduced levels of fraud and corruption in the private and public sector  Functional Provincial JCPS Cluster forming part of the Provincial Cluster System  Improve the security of land, air, ports of entry, borderline patrols and the maritime environment  Gender Based Violence and Femicide Provincial Strategy implementation  Improve the security of land, air, ports of entry, borderline patrols and the maritime environment  Implement welfare interventions including an essential minimum psycho-social support services (in line with norms and standards)  Implementation of the Drug Master Plan and Anti-Gang Strategy within the Eastern Cape  Police Oversight to ensure improved accountability and reduction of corruption  Prevention of violence and victim empowerment  Community participation in community safety 6 Implementation of the Safer City Model  The Safer City Model supports policing through multi-stakeholder collaboration so as to ensure a collective and collaborative approach to crime prevention.
 The Safer City Model promotes a “crime free city” to enhance economic development and job creation.

Local government is a primary point of contact between the different spheres of the state and communities.

 The Safer City initiative has been prioritized as one of the critical government interventions that is intended to contribute to the economic stimulus package of the country and also act as one of post Covid 19 crime prevention approaches that supports the tourism industry.
 In 2021 a Project Plan and ToR was developed.

For the 2021 financial year the Safer City Model in the Nelson Mandela was not implemented due to political instability in the Metro.

Recently a meeting was convened and a work session is scheduled for the 10th March 2022 to draft an Programme of Action for the implementation of the Safer City Model in Nelson Mandela Metro.

 In Buffalo City Metro a meeting was convened to introduce the Safer City Model and to establish an interim Steering Committee.
7 Key Projects 1.

Gender Based Violence and Femicide Strategy implementation:  The scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide continues to show its ugly face in the Eastern Cape particularly in rural communities where women are killed and/ or abused.

 As the Provincial Government a Provincial Gender Based Violence and Femicide Strategy has been approved which promotes and strengthens collaboration between the State, Civil Society and the Private Sector.
Each of these sectors have a critical role to play as GBVF is not only a government responsibility but all the people.

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The Court Watching Brief project:  Is aimed at streamlining and professionalizing the work of Criminal Justice Partners in relation to investigation, conviction and detention of offenders.

Its main aim is to ensure that justice is served to ordinary citizens particularly those who cant afford legal fees.
 As part of a pilot project 200 cases were monitored and the following are some of the findings: 1) In 6 cases charges were incorrectly recorded in the charge sheets in Lady Frere Court e.g.

One of these cases turned out to be a fraud case and 5 were duplicates.

 In summary 182 cases were re-enrolled.


16 cases finalized; 7 cases pending and 66 cases are on the court roll  Key Highlights of the project includes amongst others: 1) Maximum cooperation with the Station and FCS Commanders in terms of adhering to the deadlines as per Improvement Plans for the project; 2) As the Province, out of the 200 cases monitored we have achieved 96,8% successful attainment of the project’s objectives where 91% of the cases were re-enrolled and 61,7% were finalised.
 This was a joint effort between the Commanders of the respective Stations and FCS Units and SPPs of the relevant Courts; 3) Queenstown FCS managed to secure the following convictions: 2 counts of rape and 1 of housebreaking).

House breaking=12years imprisonment, 2nd count=15 years; count 3 = Life Imprisonment.

(Rape case) = 2 life imprisonments and (Rape case) = 8 years imprisonment 8 Key Projects 3.
Criminal Justice Anti-Stock Theft Forum:  Considering that in 2020 almost 10 police stations predominantly in the O R Tambo district were in the top 30 of in terms of stock theft cases in South Africa  The department facilitated the establishment of a Criminal Justice Task Team to promote closer working relationships between the NPA and SAPS, particularly Stock Theft Units.
 Dedicated Prosecutors have been appointed, all dockets are clearly marked and before any docket goes to court it is inspected by the dedicated Prosecutor.

 A dedicated stock theft court will be operational in Bityi so as to prioritize stock theft cases, through this Task Team there has been an increase in conviction rates and in the Stock Theft Units and the some way contributing to positivity by members of communities in general.
 Through the O R Tambo Anti-Stock Theft Criminal Justice Task Team successes were reported amongst others: 1) Improved successful conviction rate; 2) Dedicated Prosecutors have been appointed, 3) All stock theft dockets are clearly marked and 4) Before any docket goes to court it is inspected by the dedicated Prosecutors.

Some convictions includes: Tsolo: 4 convictions where a total of R60 000 in fines were given and Mthatha: 2 convictions- a total of 6.

5 years imprisonment 9 Key Projects 4.


Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provincial Task Team:     the Task Team is to provide a platform for engagement between The purpose of government, drivers’ forums and truck operators and to coordinate structures for formalising engagements between driver’s forum; truck operators and the different spheres of government.

truck Coordinate the engagement between the different spheres of government, operators, truck drivers’ foundations.
Unions representing drivers, Freight and Logistics National Bargaining Council and any other stakeholder involved in the freight and logistics sector This Task Teams intervened in the truck blockade which occurred in Middleburg- Cradock area where the Ministers of Labour and Transport engaged the truck drivers An integrated festive season plan was developed and implemented and saw massive integrated operations on the Eastern Cape borders of the Western Cape KZN and Free State.

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Northern Areas Anti-Gang Strategy:  Through the efforts of this Steering Committee integrated interventions contributed to a reduction in murder where in 2017/2018 there were 228 cases reported and in 2021/22, 194 cases.

Attempted murder in 2017/2018 there were 480 cases reported whilst in 2021/22 there were 214 cases.

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School Safety:  54 safety patrollers have deployed in 27 schools grappling with crime and violence 10 Way Forward  The Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety continues to make giant strides in its endeavor to combat crime in this province.
 Yes there are some challenges, but they are by no means insurmountable and with our passion to detect, prevent and protect driven by our loyalty to community safety, and our moves informed trends and patterns in the communities, there’s no challenge we can’t overcome.

 According to Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs, SAFETY is one of 5 basic needs for a human.

It is a State of Mind where you do not only need to be told that you are safe, but also need to feel safe.
 When communities do not feel safe, they cannot be expected to reach their full potential.

 The same goes for our beautiful Province of the Eastern Cape and our municipalities, until we adequately address the question of safety, we will always struggle to reach our full potential.

 This therefore means that, the need for Provincial and Municipal Measures to Addressing Crime and Building a Coordinated Approach to Crime Prevention and Control can never be over emphasized.

11 THANK YOU 12